PNP to LGUs: Don’t block delivery of basic goods at checkpoints.

MANILA, Philippines — If basic goods fail to reach markets during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, residents might resort to looting and other illegal activities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has warned on Wednesday.

According to Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, some LGUs are imposing strict measures that would impede the travel of delivery services of basic goods at some checkpoints.

“Nananawagan po ako sa local government units, sumasaludo kami sa inyong concern at inyong kasipagan sa inyong lugar pero isipin niyo ang pangkalahatan,” Eleazar, who is also the head of Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield, said in a PNP press conference on Wednesday.

(Some LGUs are imposing strict measures to protect their residents but they have to think of the general situation)

Eleazar lamented that if essential goods like food will not reach markets in some areas, residents might resort to looting supermarkets and other establishments as food and other basic goods become scarce in their areas.

“Remember ang iniiwasan natin… yung magkagulo at magkaroon ng looting. Bakit nagkakaroon ng looting? Ito ay dahil nagkakagutuman na ang ating bayan,” he said.

(Remember we are avoiding looting and other illegal activities. Why do we have looting? It is because our countrymen can get hungry)

“Gusto nating iwasan yun para huwag magkaroon ng looting dapat hindi magkagulo ang ating bayan so ibig sabihin nun, lahat ng basic needs pati itong mga food makapunta sa mga lugar na kailangan nila,” he added.

(We want to avoid all of these illegal acts, It is important that all basic needs reach areas that need them)

Eleazar also reminded local government units to coordinate their action with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) during the ongoing Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

Under the IATF guidelines, the movement of cargo and the delivery of basic goods such as food and to and from Luzon should be unhampered.

/MUF